Infantry in Battle-Six Teachings
From World's Chinese Wiki
Infantry in Battle (Tai Gong Six Teachings-Hound Teaching Chapter 10)
本篇论述步兵对战车、骑兵作战的方法。
English
King Wu asked Tai Gong:"What about when infantry engage in battle with chariots and cavalry?"
Tai Gong replied:"When infantry engage in battle with chariots and cavalry, they must rely on hills and mounds, ravines and defiles. The long weapons and strong crossbow should occupy the fore; the short weapons and weak crossbow should occupy the rear, firing and resting in turn. Even if large numbers of the enemy’s chariots and cavalry should arrive, they must maintain a solid formation and fight intensely while skilled soldiers and strong crossbowmen prepare against attacks from the rear."
King Wu said:"Suppose there are no hills or mounds, ravines or defiles. The enemy arrives, and it is both numerous and martial. Their chariots and cavalry outflank us on both sides, and they are making sudden thrusts against our front and rear positions. Our army are terrified and fleeing in chaotic defeat. What should we do?"
Tai Gong replied:"Order our officers and troops to set up the chevaux-de-frise and wooden caltrops, arraying the oxen and horses into units, and place in their midst, and have them established a four sided martial assault formation. When you see the enemy’s chariots and cavalry are about to advance, our men should evenly spread out the chevaux-de-frise and caltrops and dig ditches at the back of it. Making them five feet deep and wide. It is called the ‘Cage of Fate’.
Chariots should be arrayed as ramparts and pushed forward and back. Whenever they stop, set then up as fortifications. Our skilled soldiers and strong crossbowmen should defend the left and right flanks. Afterward, order our army to fervently fight without respite."
"Excellent!" said King Wu.
Modern
武王问太公说：步兵怎样与战车、骑兵作战？
太公说：步兵与战车、骑兵作战，必须依托丘陵、险阻的地形列阵，把长兵器和强努配置在前面，把短兵器和较弱的努配在后面，轮流战斗，更番休止。敌战车和骑兵大量到达，我只有坚守阵形，顽强战斗，并使材士强督戒备后方。
武王说：我方没有丘陵，又无险阻可利用，敌人到达的兵力既多又强，战车骑兵包围我两翼。突击我前后，我三军恐惧，溃败逃跑，对此怎么办?
太公说：令我士卒制作行马和木蒺藜，把牛车、马车都集中起来编为一队，步兵列成“四五冲阵”。观察到敌军即将到来，就在他来的方向，广泛布设蒺藜，并挖掘 环形的壕沟，深宽各五尺，这叫做“命笼”。步兵带着行马进退，用车辆组成营垒推着它前后移动，停止下来就成为营寨，用材士强弩戒备左右，然后号令全军急剧 地战斗，不得懈怠。
武王说：好啊！
Original
武王问太公曰：步兵与车骑战奈何?
太公曰：步兵与车骑战者，必依丘陵险阻，长兵强弩居前，短兵弱弩居后，更发更止。敌之车骑，虽众而至，坚阵疾战，材士强弩，以备我后。
武王曰：吾无丘陵，又无险阻，敌人之至，既众且武，车骑翼我两旁，猎我前后，吾三军恐怖，乱败而走，为之奈问?
太公曰：令我士卒为行马、木蒺藜，置牛马队伍，为“四武冲阵”。望敌车骑将来，均置蒺藜，掘地匝后，广深五尺，名曰“命笼”。人操行马进退，阑车以为垒，推而前后，立而为屯，材土强弩，备我左右，然后令我三军，皆疾战而不解。
武王曰：善哉!
[Back to Jiang Tai Gong Six Teachings - Hound Teaching]